Day lilies....

You know I love to photograph flowers and share those pictures.  Well, I've added a new picture to my Blog head---but like last time, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to make it smaller.  So again you get a CLOSE-UP of my flowers!  What I know about flowers you could put in a thimble, so don't blame me if I'm wrong.  This one is a day lily (I think).  We have some Asian lilies and they are blooming and beautiful now, too, but I thought I'd share a picture of the day lilies this time.  I just love the colors in this one!!  Now, let me go find some card stock this color and get busy.  Thanks for stopping in today.   Smiles, Laura

Crossword puzzles...

Do you like to work crossword puzzles?  They can be fun, can't they.  Well, I saw in an OLD stamping magazine (like from 2005 or so) that you could log onto a website and write your own crossword puzzle.  I thought it would be so fun to makeeach of my grandchildren one to fill in  as they complete the school year.  They had so much ice and snow this year that they are going to school longer than almost anyone to make up for days they missed.  They went Memorial Day, have gone several Saturdays and still won't get out until June 16!  Gee, that will make for a short summer.  So I decided to make them each a card and write a crossword puzzle inside that they could answer.  You supply the word for the puzzle and the answers and the online program gives you the puzzle and clues printed out.  Both kids  enjoyed it so much! Here are their cards.

As you can tell, I didn't use any stamping on the cards, just shapes cut with my Big Shot.  But I had fun designing the cards, too.

Thanks for visiting today.  More later.   Smiles, Laura

Tucked Ribbon...

Today I thought I'd share with you another card we are making in my June classes.  This one has a little tucked ribbon on it.  I have mentioned before how many times the local post office has me add postage to cards I'm mailing because of the "thickness" of the card--my ribbon on cards!!  Well, the satin ribbon SU sells isn't as bulky as the grosgrain ribbon.  And in this case, tucking it is a neat, different way to add ribbon to a sample.  It takes abotu 12" of ribbon to make this tuck.

This quote is from the new Summer Mini in the Favorite Thought stamp set.  The cup is from the Pun Fun set.  And the background paper is from the Tea Party DSP which will be retiring June 30.  I love this beautiful paper.  I decided to leave the ends of the ribbon sticking out, rather than gluing it under the DSP.

This next sample uses the paper that is in the Sweet Pea Paper pack that was in the Occasions mini.  It's beautiful paper!  The birthday stamp is from Bitty Birthday set.

 

Well, thanks for visiting my blog today.  More later.....  Smiles, Laura

VW "Bug-eye"

Which of us doesn't remember with fondness the little VW "bug-eye". In my former life, a red VW bug was our first car.  We carried our son, his highchair, porta crib, and other supplies in that little car all over the place.  When he grew up, my son wanted a VW bug for his first car and had a blue one!  He loved that car and you'd see it all over town.  Well, when I saw where someone made a VW bug with punches, I just had to make one for my son.  (So sorry I don't have her name to credit her--the picture I saved didn't have her name!)  Here is his card:

The samples uses mostly the wide and large oval punches.  Yes, I have the "tires" too long and corrected that on the next sample.  But I still think my son will like it when it arrives by mail.  I used the Lovely as a Tree stamp set for the background.  Isn't this a fun card!! We are making this one in my class this month.

Enjoy!!   Smiles, Laura

Chalkboard technique....

Have you heard of the chalkboard technique?  I've been hearing quite a bit about it and the Black Magic technique, so I've looked it up (the how-to's) and decided to make a chalkboard sample to show you today.  Maybe I'll make a Black Magic one later. 

Anyway, for this sample, you stamp your image on black or very dark CS using white craft ink.  Before it dries, you color it with a sponge applicator (like an eye makeup applicator or a Q-tip) using your SU chalks.  You do not RUB it into the black paper but rather dab it on lightly.  Try not to get it all over your black CS.  Blow off any stray chalk that gets scattered around.  After you are finished and it dries, you can take a tissue and LIGHTLY rub over it to remove any stray chalk. No need to set this chalk as the white craft ink holds it on.   I used the butterfly  (All a Flutter) stamp from the Summer Mini.  It's very delicate.  For the card itself, I used Pumpkin Pie and Summer Sun cardstock.  My card is not complicated, but at least you will know how to do the Chalkboard technique! 

Come visit again soon!! Smiles, Laura

New Punch and Paper!!

Woohoo!  We have new designer paper in the Summer Mini and also a new punch to play with.  I love new toys!  This Fathers Day card uses the Travel Journal DSP.  It is great for mascline cards.  We always need paper and stamps for cards to our men!!

I used the Happy Father's Day stamp from the All Holidays stampset.  The card itself is Garden Green and uses Pumpkin Pie ink.  I punched the cogs from the Extra Large Cogs Double punch for the front--using the large and small ones on it.  I am going to play with that punch more because I think there are lots of ways to use it.  I've just begun!! You'll be seeing more uses on a future post!!

Thanks for visiting today.  Come back often!!   Smiles, Laura

One more patriotic card for now....

Are you bored with my July Fourth SS samples yet?  I hope not!!  I love this set!.  (Can you tell?  Did I say that already?)  Honestly I just love patriotic stamps and samples!  This one I made thinking we'd do it in my June class but then came up with another one we'll do.

This one has silver stamped in the fireworks and also on the navy background.  I like how  it turned out. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Next time we'll use some different stamps!!  Have a great day!  Smiles, Laura